Winner: Weir Group Runners up: Iomart The "total clarity of vision" demonstrated in Weir Group's disposal of its Strachan & Henshaw business won the judges' vote.

Significant interest from potential buyers in the UK and overseas was generated through a controlled auction process for the engineering design company.

The Weir Group management team was committed to finding a buyer who would offer S&H a strong future and the timing of the deal with Babcock proved important as an attractive disposal price was achieved when market conditions were still strong.

"This was quite a complex deal which was well executed and fully consistent with Weir's strategy," commented one panel member.

The panel was also highly impressed by Iomart's sale of its Ufindus new media directories business to BT for £20m. Despite the prevailing economic conditions the deal represented a valuation of ten times EBITDA and realised a profit of £12.6m on what was a noncore business.

"This was a very important deal for them and they way they prepared the business for sale showed great focus," said one of the judges.